Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Yoshi began to play jazz bass at age of 20. Over the next few years, he emerged as a sought-after accompanist, with regular appearances at jazz clubs in Tokyo. In 1996, he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, where he was given Outstanding Performer Award. After graduation, he was on the tour for two years with the National Tour Company of Fosse, a Tony Awarded musical show. His rhythm-section mate was Bobby Economou, former drummer of rock group Blood Sweat & Tears. Yoshi currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and plays and tours with various groups in the city. Appearance includes some of the major venues and well known club in the city such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Knitting Factory, &c.
Yoshi performed with George Benson, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Gary Burton, Jimmy Cobb, Hal Crook, Dan Zanes and Friends, Barry Finnerty, Al Foster, George Garzone, Deborah Harry, Randy Johnston, Victor Jones (a.k.a. Culter Versy), Angelique Kidjo, Simon Kirke (Bad Company), John Lithgow (Perfectly Ridiculous), Joe Lovano, Rick Margitza, Ben Monder, Shunzo Ohno, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Tiger Okoshi, John Scofield, Bob Sheppard, Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, Frank Tiberi (Woody Herman Bigband), Suzanne Vega, Bill Ware Vibes, Frank Wes, Lenny White, Harry Whitaker, Jack Wilkins, Phil Wilson, Chihiro Yamanaka, &c.
Among the recordings he did, Catch that Train! (Dan Zanes and Friends) won the 49th Annual Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children, and After Hours (Chihiro Yamanaka) won the 23rd Japan Gold Disc Award for Jazz Album of the Year.
Awards:
Jazz Album of the Year, the 23rd Japan Gold Disc Award
(Chihiro Yamanaka: After Hours, 2008),
Best Musical Album for Children, the 49th Annual Grammy
Awards (Dan Zanes and Friends: Catch that Train!, 2007).
